The Three Major Credit Bureaus; Equifax, Experian & Transunion created an automated online credit dispute system that supposedly “helps” the consumer dispute errors on their credit reports. Don’t be fooled, the online system is deceptive! You think it benefits you, because it’s free, when it actually undermines your efforts to improve or repair your credit. This automated system allows the consumer to log into the site to enter their disputes in a “seemingly” more expedited way. But beware, the credit bureaus make you agree to their very own terms of service, which takes away your rights under the FCRA. Using the automated system is preventing the creation of your paper trail which would allow you to track results and prove any agency non-compliance or even possibly ruin your chances at a lawsuit.

The online credit dispute system was designed for the  credit reporting agency to gain advantage over the consumer by exploiting loopholes in the FCRA.  This more “expeditious” process enables the consumer reporting agency to avoid 3 rules that are crucial to consumer protection when disputing credit reports.  The FCRA states that when the consumer uses the online dispute process, the credit reporting agency DOES NOT have to:

1) Forward your information to creditors.

2) Provide you with written responses to your disputes.

3) Provide you with the “method of verification” of the disputed item.

The online automated dispute process allows credit reporting agencies to “respond” quickly within the 30 day limit without conducting a full investigation of the disputed items, leaving you without recourse. Their terms of service also enables previously deleted items to re-report and allows re-insertion of those items into your report without notice to you. This means even if you do get items deleted through the credit bureaus online dispute process, they can come right back on your credit report the next month without warning.